OTTAWA (CIS) – There are a number of changes at the top in this week’s CIS national rankings, including in women’s rugby, soccer and volleyball.

In other CIS sports, Guelph (women’s & men’s cross country), McGill (women’s hockey), Alberta (men’s hockey & men’s volleyball) and York (men’s soccer) hold on to their No. 1 status this week, while Montreal (women) and Toronto (men) top the first rankings of the season in swimming.

In women’s rugby, the reigning CIS champion Alberta Pandas (3-1 season / 2-0 playoffs) move back to No. 1 after they successfully defended their Canada West title thanks to a 37-7 semifinal win over UBC and a 19-11 gold-medal victory against Calgary.

In the new Top 10, the Pandas move past StFX (6-0) and McMaster (4-0-1 / 2-0), who drop one position apiece to No. 2 and No. 3.

In women’s soccer, the Ottawa Gee-Gees (15-1-0) grab the pole position after they wrapped up league play with three wins in five days, including a convincing 4-0 win over UOIT on Saturday to avenge their only loss of the regular schedule.

In the latest coaches’ poll, the Gee-Gees move ahead of the reigning two-time CIS champ Trinity Western Spartans (10-1-1), who fall to second place.

In women’s volleyball, the new team to beat is also Alberta, which is off to a 3-1 start in Canada West action. Trinity Western (3-1) drops to No. 2 behind the new leaders.

In football, the Laval Rouge et Or (6-0) top the CIS national rankings for the eighth time in as many media polls this season following another remarkable performance by rookie sensation Hugo Richard. For the eighth consecutive week, the reigning two-time Vanier Cup champions received all 30 first-place votes and a perfect 300 points from the Football Reporters of Canada panel.

While the Calgary Dinos (5-1) and McMaster Marauders (7-0) hold on to the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively, there is a lot of movement behind the leading trio in the new media poll.

Top-ranked Laval dominated Bishop’s 64-3 on Sunday in front of 13,242 in Quebec City to extend its CIS-record streaks for consecutive wins overall (24) and consecutive victories on home turf (69).

Quarterback Hugo Richard continued to make a case for rookie-of-the-year or even league-MVP honours as he threw for an RSEQ-record seven touchdown passes along with 506 yards, a new team standard, in three quarters of action. The super freshman currently leads the country in passing yards per game (343.5) and TD strikes (19), while his completion percentage (68.4) ranks second in the nation.

Meanwhile at Guelph, in the most-anticipated game of the past weekend, Daniel Ferraro kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1.7 seconds left on the clock to lift the Gryphons to a thrilling 49-46 triumph over Western. Senior quarterback Jazz Lindsey was also a major factor in the win with a school-record 514 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Western is once again involved in the CIS “game of the week” this coming weekend as league play comes to an end in Ontario. The Mustangs host Windsor (5-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. for third place in the OUA standings (Rogers TV & Rogers Sports + & OUA.TV).

NOTES: The 50th TELUS Vanier Cup Tour makes a pair of visits to Sherbrooke, Que., on Saturday, stopping at Bishop’s for the Carabins-Gaiters duel at 1 p.m. (live on Radio-Canada) before making its way down the road for the Concordia-Sherbrooke contest at 4 p.m…. For all the information on the 50th TELUS Vanier Cup (including ticket info) visit vaniercup.com.